Glass coated pipe system and testing method

Abstract

The invention is directed to a piping system for a side wall vented mid-efficiency furnace. The piping system comprises a plurality of sections of steel pipe having a glass coated interior surface. The interior surface is continuous and resistant to corrosion. An electronic testing apparatus and a method for utilizing same in testing for flaws in the glass coating of pipes is also provided.

I claim: 
     
       1. A pipe section for a piping system, comprising: a hollow core defining an internal passageway, said core having a male end and a female end, said ends opening to said passageway said female end being sized to receive a male end of an adjacent pipe section in a substantially sealed fit;   a stud protruding externally from said core, said stud being sufficiently connected to said core to permit an electric charge to be conducted between and along said core and said stud; and   a glass coating disposed continuously over the surface of said passageway wherein said pipe section is adapted for testing for flaws in said glass coating when the electric charge is conducted along said core.   
     
     
       2. A pipe system comprising: a plurality of interconnected pipe sections defining a continuously sealed passageway each said pipe section having a hollow core defining a portion of said passageway, said core having an open male end and an open female end, said female end being sized to receive a male end of an adjacent pipe section in a substantially sealed fit;   a stud protruding externally from said core of each said pipe section, said stud being connected to said core to permit an electric charge to be conducted between and along said core and said stud; and   a glass coating disposed continuously over an inner surface of said passageway for each said pipe section wherein said pipe system is adapted for testing for flaws in said glass coating when the electric charge is conducted along said core.   
     
     
       3. A piping system as claimed in claim 2, wherein one of said pipe sections comprises a condensate tee having a tee flange protruding externally from said core between said male and female ends, said tee flange defining an external opening from said passageway. 
     
     
       4. A piping system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pipe sections include straight sections, elbow sections and said condensate tee section. 
     
     
       5. A piping system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for supporting said interconnected pipe sections at a slope relative to a horizontal plane. 
     
     
       6. A pipe system as claimed in claim 3, wherein a conduit extends between said tee flange and a drain receptacle. 
     
     
       7. A pipe system as claimed in claim 2, wherein an electric connector extends between each stud of adjacent pipe sections to permit an electric charge to be conducted along all of the interconnected cores. 
     
     
       8. An arc tester for testing a hollow pipe having a glass coated internal surface comprising: an electric power supply;   an electrically conductive body having means for electrically contacting the glass coated internal surface of the pipe;   a first electric connector for electrically connecting said body to said power supply;   a second electric connector for electrically connecting said pipe to said power supply; and   means for sensing when an electric circuit is completed between said body and said pipe.   
     
     
       9. An arc tester as claimed in claim 8, further comprising means for moving said body from one end of said pipe to another. 
     
     
       10. An arc tester as claimed in claim 8, further comprising an audible alarm electrically connected to said sensing means for emitting an audible signal when said completed circuit is sensed. 
     
     
       11. An arc tester as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a visible alarm electrically connected to said sensing means for emitting a visible signal when said completed circuit is sensed. 
     
     
       12. A method of testing a hollow pipe having a glass coated internal surface comprising the steps of: electrically connecting the pipe to an electric power supply;   electrically connecting an electrically conductive body to said power supply, said body having means for electrically contacting the glass coated internal surface of the pipe;   activating said power supply;   moving said body from one end of said pipe to the other;   sensing when an electric circuit is completed between said body and said pipe; and   determining the position of said body relative to said pipe when said circuit is sensed to locate the position of a flaw in said glass coating.